Match -safe.



No. 698,774. Patented Apr.'2 9, I902.-

s L. WHITEHEAD. MATCH SAFE.

cation Med Jan. 27

UNITED STATE-s PATENT GFFICE.

STEPHEN WHITEHEAD, OF NORTON, VIRGINIA.

MATCH-SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,774, dated April 29, 1902.

Application filed January 27, 1902. Serial No. 91,404. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known thatLSTEPHEN LNVHITE EAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norton, in the county of Wise and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Safes and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinventiou, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to match-safes of the variety designed to deliver one match at a time, thereby preventing a person from taking a number of matches at one operation, and which habit entails considerable expense upon dealers and others placing matches for free distribution and accommodation of their patrons. The fact of having to operate the safe for each match secured places a check upon persons who would otherwise supply themselves with a number of matches for subsequent use. Combined with the match-delivery mechanism is a cutter for clipping off the ends of cigars, a match being delivered for each operation of the cutting mechanism. Hence after the cigar has been clipped a match will be found conveniently at hand, having been delivered as a result of the clipping op eration. a

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of theinvention are susceptible'of modi fication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of a matchsafe embodying the invention, the full lines showing the pickup in position to receive a match and the outer end of the lever demal position of these parts. Fig.2 is a horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section about onthe line'X'X'of 'Fig. 1 looking in the directionof-the arrow.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated pressed and the dotted lines showing-the nor;

in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The match-safe 1 is of box form and is provided with a delivery slot 2 at the lower end of its front, an inclined chute 3 leading to said delivery-slot. A drawer 4 slides into the safe through an opening in'the rear'and is adapted to receive the matches 5. The bottom of the drawer is inclined to cause the matches to collect at a given point, so as to be taken up by the pick-up or delivery-arm 6. The part 6, designated as the pick-up or delivery-arm, is curved and pivoted to the safe at 7. The free end of the pick-up is provided with a bill for taking hold of a match and carrying the same upward and forward. The bill of the pick-up is forked, as shown at 8, the fork members being sharpened and the opposing sides roughened, so as to retain in place a match received in the fork until positively disengaged from the bill by impact with a detacher 9. The part 6 is preferably constructed of spring-wire, so as to yield, and in order to increase the resiliency an eye 10 is formed by coiling the wire upon itself about midway of, its ends. The bill 8 is formed by fiattening the endof the wire and cutting a notch transversely of the flattened portion. The pick-up or delivery-arm is attached toa rock shaft 7, which constitutes the axis or pivotal support the'refonsaid shaft being journaled at its ends in the sides or opposite walls of the safe. A crank portion 11 is formed near one end of the rock-shaft, and the actuating-lever has connection therewith.

A housing 12 is located upon the top of the safe nearone end and incloses the lever 13, by means of which the cigar-clipping and match -'delivery" mechanisms are actuated. This'lever'l' ri is pivoted to the side walls of the housing 12 at 14, and a spring 15 exerts pressure upon the inner end of the lever, so as to hold the outer end elevated and in a normal position. As shown, the spring 15 is of the contractiletype, although any variety of spring may be utilized and conveniently positioned so long as thedesired result is attained. The outer end of the lever 13 projects through an opening in the front end of the housing 12 and is provided with abutton or finger-piece 16. A pitman 17 connects the lever 13 with the crankportion 11 of the rock-shaft 7, and upon vibrating the lever the pick-up or delivery-arm 6 is thrown rearward and downward, so as to receive a match, and upon releasing the lever the spring reacting throws the part 6 upward and forward, and the match carried thereby is disengaged by striking the detacher 9 and dropping upon the chute 3 gravitates to the delivery-slot2 and is received upon the counter or other support arranged for its recepnon.

The clipping mechanism for cutting off the ends of cigars consists of an opening 19 in a Wall of the housing 12 and a cutting edge 20, provided upon the lever 13. The lever 13 is arranged subjacent to the inner side of the Wall of the housing having the opening 19, and when the end of a cigar is thrust through said opening and the lever 13 is depressed at its outer end the cutting edge operates to clip off the projecting portion of the cigar extended into the housing; Simultaneously with the operation of clipping off the end of the cigar the arm 6 is operated to take up a match, and as the lever is returned to a normal position by the action of thespring 15 the arm 6 is thrown upward and forward, and the match elevated thereby is disengaged by the part9 and dropping upon the chute 3 is delivered in the manner aforesaid. The cigar-clippings are retained within the housing and may be received in a suitable receptacle conveniently located for their reception.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a match-safe having an inclined chute, a curved pick-up and delivery-arm, a lever for operating said arm, and a detacher located in the path of the free end of the said arm, substantially as set forth. I

2. In a match-safe, a spring pivoted arm for picking up and delivering the matches, a detacher located in the path of the free end ofthe said arm, and means for operating the arm, substantially as specified.

3. In a match-safe having a delivery-slot, an inclined chute, a detacher, and a pivoted spring-arm having a coil intermediate of its ends and adapted to pick up a'match and deliver the same upon theinclined chute, sub stantially' as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN L. WHl'lEHEAD. [L. s] Witnesses: JOHN Q. PEARCE, H. M. TAYLOR. 

